Monthly Archives: October 2016

If you are a vegan or vegetarian, chances are you’re frequently bombarded with the question, “How do you get enough protein?” Regardless of your personal motivations for making this dietary decision, incessant lectures can get old, fast, and potentially make you question your eating habits. Not to fear. We’re here to help you get educated with the straight facts about vegetarian proteins and how to make it work for your diet.

How many grams of vegetarian proteins should be consumed daily?

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. To determine your personal RDA for protein, multiple your weight in pounds by .36. Or, just use this online protein calculator. It’s important to note that RDA refers to the minimum daily value – so shooting for a bit above is great whenever possible.

Science confirms that the key to optimizing your protein intake is to shoot for consumption of a variety of protein foods. Although vegans and vegetarians have less options to choose from when compared to their meat-loving friends, there are still tons of ways to hit your daily numbers. Here are six healthy vegetarian meals that will help you pack more protein into your day:

This delicious dish takes a total of five minutes to prep and will leave you feeling full all through the afternoon. Smashed avocado spreads across toasted whole wheat bread. Topped with slices of boiled eggs, a drizzle of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and chia seeds is all you need to complete this whole meal.

If you’re looking for the perfect vegetarian dinner to welcome the colder weather, this protein packed soup will be your new best friend. Each serving comes packed with fresh vegetables (onion, zucchini, squash, tomato, spinach) and five grams of protein per serving. Garbanzo beans (AKA chickpeas) are an incredible source of protein for those sticking to a vegetarian diet and two cups contain your entire Daily Value of fiber.

Available on this week’s menu, you’ll love the mound of nutritious ingredients packed inside. Quinoa is considered a complete protein, filled with nine essential amino acids your body needs. The dish is packed with superfoods like snow peas, eggplant, bell pepper and pumpkin seeds (more protein!) and finished with a tangy tahini sauce.

This recipe is a must-try for vegetarians. Each zucchini burrito delivers 19.7 grams of protein. Stuffed with rice, melty cheese and plenty of veggies, this dish won’t make you miss the meat (or Chipotle). Minus the cheese, this could also serve as a healthy vegan meal.

If you’re a vegetarian who has yet to discover Kodiak Cakes – you’re welcome. This product is an excellent, 100% whole grain ingredient to have on hand. One cup of the Power Cakes mix delivers 14 grams of protein. This specific recipe also packs in additional protein from the pumpkin puree. Breakfast for dinner, anyone?

This bright, paella-style dish packs 14 total grams of protein per serving and is available on this week’s menu. Tomato, bell pepper, onion, carrot, zucchini, and peas sit on a bed of Israeli couscous, seasoned with exotic saffron.

If you’re looking for vegetarian diet meal delivery, Christophe’s offers plenty of protein-packed meals, delivered straight to your door. We’ll help you take the headache out of vegetarian and vegan meal prep so you can stick with your diet while getting all the protein and nutrients you need to stay healthy.

At Christophe’s, we love hearing from our community about local, Atlanta happenings and the latest foodie finds. This week, we’re excited to feature guest blogger, Brooke Thompson, to highlight upcoming Atlanta events. If you have a post topic you’d like for us to cover or are interested in being featured in the future, we would love to hear from you.

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Modern Atlanta is a place of cultural diversity, art, and entertainment. The underground art scene is growing rapidly while restaurants boasting international cuisine are popping up at every corner. Georgia may not yet be known as a cultural hub, but it is certainly on the rise. Its vibrant local culture features a growing number of festivals and events to celebrate diversity, art, history, and more. Whether you’ve recently moved toAtlanta or are a long-time resident, you’re sure to find a fun event that fits your interests. Here are a few of the local festivals you should attend:

Fall Folklife Festival

This is a festival meant to celebrate local handicrafts and Southern culture. Events include demonstrations of basket weaving, candle dipping, and food preservations. There will also be workshops and booths devoted to traditional Southern cuisine. It’s a great way to get back to your roots and learn how things were done in the good old days, all while enjoying delicious Southern food. The next Fall Folklife Festival will be in Fall 2017.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Sure, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated across the U.S. and often with a parade of some sort, but Atlanta plays host to one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the South. Started in 1858, Atlanta’sSt. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the oldest in the nation. Unlike many celebrations, the event is family-friendly with plenty of entertainment for adults and children alike. The 2017 event takes place Saturday, March 11.

The Georgia Renaissance Festival

For two months, each weekend Atlanta is home to an enormous Renaissance Festival. Over 1,000 actors and actresses in full period costume are waiting to transform modern day Atlanta into a Renaissance village. Fun period events such as jousting, magicians, and minstrels are all available with family-friendly activities, sights, and entertainment. Check it out for yourself April 15-June 4, 2017.

Marietta Art in the Park

Marietta Square’s Art in the Park has been around since 1996. It is one of Atlanta’s biggest celebrations of local art and local artists. You can view and purchase art from some of Atlanta’s finest artists or even attend workshops to produce your own art. Overall, it’s a wonderful experience for art buffs and people who just enjoy a good dose of local culture. The next Art in the Park celebration will be in September 2017.

Atlanta Greek Festival

Another longstanding tradition, the Atlanta Greek Festival has been going strong since 1974. It’s a celebration of Greek food, Greek art, Greek culture, and the Greek Orthodox Church. People of all ages can enjoy authentic foods and learn a little about Greek culture. To make it even more entertaining, there is live Greek music through the duration of the festival. The next Greek Festival will be in September 2017.

Atlanta residents agree the city is a place of diversity. Its celebrations incorporate everything from the most traditional cultural celebration (St. Patrick’s Day) all the way to old-fashioned handicrafts. Make the most of your Atlanta living experience by taking advantage of all the horizon-broadening events throughout the year. Each and every festival is an opportunity for socialization, fun, and education.

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Brooke Thompson is an adventurer, health nut, fitness fanatic, and dog lover living in Atlanta. At WellAtlanta.com, she shares health and wellness-related tips and advice in addition to cool health-related treasures she finds while exploring the city.